Mr. Knightley’s Diary

She teases me and bedevils me, she exasperates and infuriates me, but what would I do without Emma?

Tuesday 30 March

It is two weeks now since Frank Churchill left, and I have fallen back into my routine of regular visits to Hartfield.

"And what do you think of Mrs. Elton?" I asked Emma. "Or have you not yet had time to visit her?"

"Yes, I called on her yesterday," she said.

I was surprised that she had paid Mrs. Elton the compliment of an early visit, but I was also relieved. I am not perfectly sure of what happened between Elton and Emma, but I know her thoughts were not easy on that score, and yet she still performed her duty.

"And did you see her?"

"Yes, I did."

"Then you had better luck than I did. When I called, she and her husband were out. Well?" I asked, as no comment was forthcoming.

"She was very elegantly dressed," said Emma.

"In a London bonnet?" I asked her.

"In a London gown."

"And have you nothing more to say?" I asked in surprise.

"One visit is hardly enough to judge of someone’s character," said Emma, "but she seemed to be very pleasing."

She would say no more, but perhaps she might be ready to commit herself when Mrs. Elton has returned the call.

I did not meet the lady myself until later in the day, when I came across her at the Westons. I had called to speak to Weston about some hay, but as soon as the Eltons entered the room, everything of that kind was naturally postponed.

I had not been in company with Mrs. Elton for more than five minutes when I realized that she was not destined to become a regular guest at the Abbey. Between telling me how fine her brother-in-law’s house is; calling Elton by turns her caro sposo and Mr. E; informing me of her many resources - which, however, she seems determined to ignore now that she is a married woman - and saying that Emma was already a favourite with her; she managed to disgust me in as many ways as she spent minutes talking. How Elton could bear it I do not know, but he simpered and smiled as though he had brought home a jewel.

I was polite, however, and welcomed her to Highbury society.

"I would love to stay all day, but my caro sposo insists I return Miss Woodhouse’s visit," said she.

"I am looking forward to seeing Hartfield. Mr. E tells me it is very like Maple Grove. Did I mention Maple Grove? My brother-in-law, Mr. Suckling’s place?"

Mrs. Weston assured her she had, and Weston bowed her out of the room.

"A very elegantly dressed woman," said Mrs. Weston.

"Hah!"

She looked at me in surprise.

"That is exactly what Emma said!" I told her.

Mrs. Weston had the goodness to smile, and I knew our views of Mrs. Elton coincided.

Wednesday 31 March

I was eager to find out about Mrs. Elton’s visit to Hartfield, and I had an opportunity this evening when I dined with Emma and her father. Whilst Mr. Woodhouse fretted that he had not paid Mrs. Elton a visit - "A bride, you know" - Emma reassured him that his health would be his excuse.

I could get very little from her concerning Mrs. Elton, and she said no more than yesterday, but that in itself told me everything I needed to know.

"You do not like Mrs. Elton," I remarked. "So you have been subjected to her talk about her caro sposo and Mr. E as well, have you?"

"I have, though I think it is very unfair of you to ridicule her for demonstrating her knowledge of Italian - and the alphabet," she said to me saucily.

"I have no objection to her knowledge of either, but I have a lively dread of her displaying such knowledge in the most vulgar way possible. How Elton can stand it I do not know."

"He is in love. Allowances must be made," she said.

"Hah!"

She does not think that Elton is in love any more than I do.

"I am glad to see that your taste, which erred in singling out Harriet, and again in rejecting Miss Fairfax, and yet again in singling out that puppy Frank Churchill - yes, well - your taste, in this case, was not at fault," I told her. "Mrs. Elton is a vainglorious woman with a small mind who thinks she is bringing refinement to a quiet corner of the country, when she is bringing only change."

"At last, we think the same on something!" said Emma. "No, pray do not spoil it," she said, when I opened my mouth to speak again. "Let me savour the moment."

Impossible girl! But out of the goodness of my heart, I let her have her own way.

April

Friday 2 April

I was glad to find that Miss Fairfax had extended her visit, and would not be returning to London so soon as was expected.